Father son project what car?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Father son project what car? I have time he is 8 but loves helping me every time i am working on my camaro.So i figure start planning now get some ideas and if he changes his mind later i'll build it for myself lol. i see lots of different posts on cars but what to get your take.
the engine will be a 4.8 cheap reliable tons of potential.
goal DD for Highschool so can't be a grandma car unless sleeper potential out ways the potential ostracizing he might get by his friends.
Car must be under 2k (doesn't need to be running because i am replacing the motor)
and the easier the swap the better older cars tend to have more room less crap to cut out but some times more fab work to make it fit.
So i pose you guys who have done more swaps than me and may have done one for the same premise. if your budget was 5k.
Motor 1000 to 1500
car 2000
Leaning room 2000 to 1500
what car would you pick to work on with your son and why (trucks acceptable as well cause he might be into that by the time we are ready do start.
Hard mode question less than 3 years to pull off IE age 13 to 16
Q)can your project be done without help from speed shop in under 3 years?
just added that one for fun but that is the latest i would start working on this with him.
I'm fond of the little Z cars myself.
this isn't a serious thing right now so just have fun with it.
the engine will be a 4.8 cheap reliable tons of potential.
goal DD for Highschool so can't be a grandma car unless sleeper potential out ways the potential ostracizing he might get by his friends.
Car must be under 2k (doesn't need to be running because i am replacing the motor)
and the easier the swap the better older cars tend to have more room less crap to cut out but some times more fab work to make it fit.
So i pose you guys who have done more swaps than me and may have done one for the same premise. if your budget was 5k.
Motor 1000 to 1500
car 2000
Leaning room 2000 to 1500
what car would you pick to work on with your son and why (trucks acceptable as well cause he might be into that by the time we are ready do start.
Hard mode question less than 3 years to pull off IE age 13 to 16
Q)can your project be done without help from speed shop in under 3 years?
just added that one for fun but that is the latest i would start working on this with him.
I'm fond of the little Z cars myself.
this isn't a serious thing right now so just have fun with it.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Here in wa it's hard to find anything but a redneck camaro that cheep and i mean redneck in a nice way but they stick out like a sore thumb and attrack cops like flies on s**t i want him to have fun not destroy my insurance lol.
but not a bad idea the third gens are a dime a dozen and pretty straight forward
but not a bad idea the third gens are a dime a dozen and pretty straight forward
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
nice thing about that is they are cheep and with the new laws keep him from putting more than 1 other person in the car. but again i'm not a truck guy and he may not be a truck guy *crosses fingers for no 6 foot lifted redneck 4x4 on my front lawn* (I live in yelm Wa these things are everywhere and i hate them cause they never do the speed limit and look like crap driving down the road when the cut me off cause they can't see me)
Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 76
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I'd say an S10 or a Silverado. Can't go wrong with either of those.
I like lifted trucks, but i'd rather drive a lowered truck any day.
I agree on young douchebags always in a f'ing hurry in those trucks, though. I see more fast cars and muscle cars doing the speed limit than I do trucks.
I like lifted trucks, but i'd rather drive a lowered truck any day.
I agree on young douchebags always in a f'ing hurry in those trucks, though. I see more fast cars and muscle cars doing the speed limit than I do trucks.
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I would say that G-body would be the best bet...but you could always build a newer F-body (4th gen) since they will be even cheaper when you are ready to buy.
If I were building a vehicle with my kid I wouldn't build a truck...especially not a V8 mini truck...HP + Little truck + rain = bad news. Same might be said for F-bodies and or and rear drive car but little trucks are definitely the worst.
Full size truck would be cool too if its tricked out right.
If I were building a vehicle with my kid I wouldn't build a truck...especially not a V8 mini truck...HP + Little truck + rain = bad news. Same might be said for F-bodies and or and rear drive car but little trucks are definitely the worst.
Full size truck would be cool too if its tricked out right.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 393
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I had a GTO as a first car in high school and a 3rd gen Trans Am as my 2nd car in H.S. The 3rd gen was the perfect car for me at that time because it wasn't really fast enough to get in serious trouble with, but looked good and handled decent.
I would say something relatively modern simply for the crash / safety factor.
I don't want to be in my current 66 GTO in an accident that's for sure.
I would say something relatively modern simply for the crash / safety factor.
I don't want to be in my current 66 GTO in an accident that's for sure.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 67
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i'm sure i want something from the late 70's to early 90's as they can be found cheep i'm putting the ls in it cause the parts can be had for pennies on the dollar especially if you compare it to something like a bmw engine plus loads of potential don the line and the efi alows me to have it tuned up as he grows with the car 290 hp is more than enough to get him in trouble but as he gets older a cam some tuning and some airflow mods and he is well above 300 then it's up to him.
i'm partial to the datsun z cars for 80's i think they just got the cool factor but you guys have made alot of good points keep them coming
i'm partial to the datsun z cars for 80's i think they just got the cool factor but you guys have made alot of good points keep them coming
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 30
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From: Norway, Europe
I would pay attention to safety and economy. If the car is "too old", it'll be unsafe, no matter what. And by the time your son is old enough to drive, gas prices may have risen to the point where driving a larger truck that gets pretty bad mileage will be a financial disaster. 
Go for something new enough to be reasonably safe, old enough to be a project car, large enough to haul people and stuff, small enough to get at least 25 mpg on the highway.
Go for something new enough to be reasonably safe, old enough to be a project car, large enough to haul people and stuff, small enough to get at least 25 mpg on the highway. 
Launching!
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Staten Island NY, East brunswick NJ
Last edited by oberth1; Aug 24, 2012 at 08:42 AM.